The tournament at the Lyneham Tennis Centre drew competitors from all round Australia with a particularly large representation from Victoria.

Charlie was one of three Goulburn Tennis Club competitors at the clay court tournament. The other two were Taylor Swift and Cory Greenwood.

Charlie has been playing tennis basically since he was old enough to hold a racquet.

His parents play socially and have a synthetic grass court on their property and the family enjoys regular social tennis matches on various properties in the Collector district. In Goulburn Charlie plays and receives coaching on the synthetic grass at the Bishop St courts.

The Canberra tournament was only the second time that he had played in a clay court tournament.

“I prefer to play singles,” Charlie said. “But played both singles and doubles in the ACT Junior Challenge.

“We lost the doubles in the final but I won the singles.”

Charlie, who was ranked number three for the tournament, was teamed with Mitchell Hargreaves, the tournament’s number one ranked player in the doubles.

The pair won their first encounter against Joshua Baker and Nathanael Cosalvo 6-1, 6-3. Their second encounter was a little closer against Mwiga Kippaya and Patrick Wielemborek with two wins 6-1, 7-5. The third match against Peter Ivanic and Brendan Potter resulted in a decisive 6-0, 6-0 victory that put Mitchell and Charlie into the final.

In the final they were up against Mike Vaughan, who Charlie had defeated in the morning to claim the singles prize, and fourth ranked Jackson Ross. Mike and Jackson were able to turn the tables to record a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 win to leave Charlie and Mitchell with the runners up trophy for the doubles.

There were 52 boys entered in the 12 and under competition.

In Charlie’s first match he defeated Connor Wood in straight sets 6-0, 6-1. His second opponent was Dimitri Morogiannis who he defeated 6-4, 6-2. Petar Ivanic was Charlie’s third opponent who went down 6-1, 6-0.

In the semi-final Charlie came up against Jesse Delaney, the number one ranked singles player, who he defeated in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. His final win over Mike Vaughan was also a straight sets victory 6-4, 6-2.

While people might think that to play two finals in one day would be enough it, was not for Charlie who fronted at the Bishop St courts in Goulburn for some coaching and the Tuesday evening competition with his father John Reardon.

Michael Gerstenberg coaches Charlie Reardon in Goulburn on Tuesdays and Thursday. Charlie also receives additional training with Andrew Bullt in Canberra.

Mr Gerstenberg said that Charlie has a long way to go with his tennis and can expect the training will get harder and the competition tougher as he gets older.

“I enjoy playing tennis and have to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to compete in these tournaments,” Charlie said.

“They have to do a lot of driving taking me to them and taking me to training.

“I used to play hockey and rugby but have given them up to concentrate on tennis.”

“I would also like to thank Michael Gerstenberg and Andrew Bullt for their coaching and encouragement I know that I would not be doing as well without their coaching.”

Charlie Reardon has two remaining major tournaments this year.

The Medibank Cup from Saturday November 20 to November 24 in Sydney then the December Sundown in Melbourne from December 1 to 19.